In response to the COVID-19 public health emergency, the Maryland Judiciary has issued two new orders and revised an existing order to further restrict court operations. These measures, effective March 16, address statutory and rules deadlines related to the initiation of court matters in Maryland. The deadlines, including statutes of limitations, are now tolled or suspended. Additionally, all statutes and rules deadlines for hearing pending matters are also tolled or suspended.
The new order will control these deadlines with an exception for scheduling criminal jury trials. A separate Administrative Order on Expanding the Statewide Suspension of Jury Trials and Suspending Grand Juries was also issued to govern these trials.
According to this jury order, "jurors will not be called for service until further notice." All civil and criminal jury trials in circuit courts scheduled after March 16 are suspended. Trials set at least six weeks from a date identified by Maryland Court of Appeals Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera as the end of the COVID-19 emergency period will remain scheduled. Furthermore, "all grand juries will be suspended until further notice."
The existing order restricting court operations due to COVID-19 has been expanded to allow certain proceedings to be handled remotely. Jurisdictions without electronic filing capabilities through the Maryland Electronic Courts (MDEC), such as Baltimore City, Montgomery County, and Prince George’s County, can now use virtual drop boxes for electronic processing. These jurisdictions may choose at their discretion how to process emergency and urgent matters electronically.
For more information on these orders: https://mdcourts.gov/coronavirusorders.